Oprah Makes A Historic Investment In Morehouse Students

Morehouse College students just got another major boost.

Months after Robert F. Smith announced his plans to completely cover the student loan debt incurred by the graduating class of 2019, Oprah Winfrey, one of the HBCU’s longest-running donors, made a generous contribution to one of the school’s scholarship programs.

While visiting the Atlanta-based college to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program, its namesake announced, to the surprise of the students and faculty, her plan to donate $13 million to the fund, which had $12 million prior to her kind gesture.

“Seeing you young Oprah Winfrey scholars here today has moved me deeply,” she said. “I am so proud of you, I’m proud of everybody in attendance at this school who is seeking to know more clearly who you are, the value you hold and how you will share that value with the rest of the world… I was really surprised to learn that it’s been 30 years since I made that $12 million donation to Morehouse. And so, today, I would like to add $13 million to that.”

This marks the largest endowment in the school’s history.

Take a look at the chilling moment, below:

While there, the school presented her with a new portrait to express their gratitude for her support throughout the years:

Winfrey took to Instagram on Tuesday morning where she shared highlights from the day, one being a ceremony where each scholar presented her with a rose at the intimate event.

“Spent a day marinating in black excellence with these gorgeous, promising, young men at @morehouse1867,” she wrote. “They honored me with roses, a song, and a portrait for a scholarship fund I set up 30 years ago. Can’t wait to see what they do with their future.”

Morehouse College’s president David A. Thomas shared a statement after Winfrey’s historical announcement.

“I’m grateful to Oprah Winfrey for her generosity,” he said. “I am also feeling hopeful for Morehouse and what it has garnered in terms of philanthropic support with gifts like Oprah’s and Robert Smith’s. I am hopeful that this will also get others to step up with their support of Morehouse, but even more broadly, historically Black colleges and universities.”